Hezbollah chief says Syria may descend into Iraq-like abyss

BEIRUT — Lebanon’s Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah accused the U.S., Israel and some Arab states of stoking “terrorism” in Syria, during a speech broadcast to thousands of his supporters in southern Beirut.

“Who wants the destruction of Syria? America and Israel and some Arab countries,” said Nasrallah, whose Shiite militant party is allied with the Damascus regime.

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“They want to destroy Syria because it is the main ally of the resistance in Lebanon and Palestine.”

Condemning deadly twin blasts that killed dozens and injured hundreds in Damascus on Thursday, Nasrallah criticised the Syrian opposition over its accusation that President Bashar al-Assad’s regime was behind the attacks.

The explosions, the Hezbollah chief added, were proof that Syria risks descending into an abyss similar to Iraq.

“The Syrian people are at a crossroads,” Nasrallah said, adding that one path leads to “reform”, and the other to “destruction.”

The militant group has steadfastly expressed its support for Assad’s regime since the outbreak of an uprising in March last year.

Hezbollah is considered Iran’s proxy in Lebanon and its weapons transit mainly through Syria.

Nasrallah spoke during an event in Beirut’s southern suburbs celebrating the reconstruction of the district, much of which was destroyed by aerial bombing in the 2006 war with Israel, Hezbollah TV channel Al-Manar said.

At least 1,200 Lebanese died during the 2006 war, most of them civilians, while around 160 Israelis died, the majority of them soldiers.